Stressed brother lashes out at sister, after discovering that she started an outdoor workout on her smart watch, while walking to meet at the hospital to see their suddenly-sick dad: 'It's just what I do when I go walk anywhere'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Sep 2, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

Listen, we understand how important it is to get those steps in, and if it's not recorded on our smart watches, did it even happen? We each have daily goals and prefer to meet them, regardless of the unexpected turns our days may take…but turning on your step tracker during your walk to the hospital, after learning your dad has become ill, is not the BEST situation to try to hit those goals…The free smoothie can wait!

This brother is left furious after getting a buddy notification that his sister has started a 'workout' while waiting for her to arrive at the hospital. However…could this be a possible overreaction? An outlet for the stress and lack of control he is feeling? For any gym bunnies or any 'ol active Joe, starting your watch after leaving the house is just like brushing your teeth. A reflex, with no deep meaning that symbolizes a lack of care and urgency to reach for their sick father…

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  • So we could see how this story can go either way…but perhaps instead of taking it out on each other in times of distress, they could come together to support each other. Even go catch some air outside, go on a walk (without the watch, of course!). Because at the end of the day, sometimes we take our emotions out on those closest to us…and all they really need is one big, “I've got you."

  • 01
    "When I got there, he saw the notification I completed a workout"
    via valery-kazlitsinaus-images

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    AITA for setting an outdoor workout on my smart watch while I walked to the hospital to visit my sick dad?

    I was told my dad was very sick and in the hospital. The hospital he was at was about 1.5 miles from my house.
    via TAwalking
  • 03
    I don't have a car, so when I found out, I walked there. Anytime I walk anywhere, I log it as a workout on my watch.
    via TAwalking
  • 04
    Usually it's to the store or a convenience store, but I always log it. But I knew I was going to walk, so I took the few seconds to set a workout on my watch.
    via TAwalking
  • 05
    I share my workouts with my brother, he shares them with me. I guess we are smart watch friends? When I got there,
    via TAwalking
  • 06
    he saw the notification I completed a workout. He asked about it and I told him it was the walk here, to the hospital.
    via TAwalking
  • 07
    He got mad asking how I could think about setting a workout on my watch when dad was very sick. I told him it was just what I do when I go walk anywhere.
    via TAwalking
  • 08
    It's a reflex to set it when I go anywhere on foot. So AITA for starting an outdoor workout on my smart watch before I walked to see my sick dad in the hospital?
    via TAwalking
  • 09
    Final-Dirt-5250 NTA. It's muscle memory at this point for you. Tapping a button on your watch before you walk somewhere takes maybe two seconds and doesn't detract from the urgency of the situation.
    via Final-Dirt-5250
  • 10
    Your brother is definitly just stressed and lashing out. When people are scared, they can fixate on weird, tiny things because the big thing is too overwhelming to deal with. He's not mad about the watch; he's mad that your dad is sick, and you were just an easy target for that frustration. I wouldn't take it to heart. Just focus on your dad. I hope he feels better soon.
    via Final-Dirt-5250
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10549190400
    via elnur

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 12
    EmilySD101 My watch would start doing that automatically after a few minutes anyways, your brother is probably just having a hard time with your dad and being angry makes it easier.
    via EmilySD101
  • 13
    ZippyKoala Lol no NTA if fact I'd say that sticking to your routines, as this clearly is, is better for your mental health when things are tough as as it helps keep you grounded. Your dad isn't going to know or care that you took 30 seconds to do something you always do.
    via ZippyKoala
  • 14
    SummitJunkie7 NAH. You did something you always do by reflex, and it didn't harm anything, didn't keep you from getting to the hospital. It's really no different than tying your shoes and locking your door as you left. Things that take a few seconds, and aren't strictly totally necessary, but are habits and don't hurt anything to do.
    via SummitJunkie7
  • 15
    esmerelofchaos NTA. imagine worrying about what other people are doing with their smartwatches while their dad is so ill.
    via esmerelofchaos
  • 16
    Beautiful-Muscle2661 NTA but if you want to save drama some watches have a feature that auto recognizes workouts so you could just say your watch auto detected the workout as a walk and started recording it
    via Beautiful-Muscle2661
  • 17
    Regular-Tell-108 NAH. You have done nothing wrong. And: I am sorry for all the stress for you and your family. Your brother is freaked out about your dad. Give him some grace.
    via Regular-Tell-108
  • 18
    Money_Engineering_59 NTA. I would presume your brother feels very out of control with your dads illness so is grasping at straws to find something TOO control, which is you. Just in that one moment. I'd let this one pass as everyone is obviously stressed out.
    via Money_Engineering_59
  • 19
    Regular_Boot_3540 NTA. Your brother is getting upset about something totally inconsequential. How much time does it take to set a workout? Five seconds? Ten seconds?
    via Regular_Boot_3540
  • 20
    8cowdot NTA. This is small potatoes. Brother was grief stricken and scared and took it out on you, inappropriately, but we've all done that. Show him some grace. He knows it didn't make any difference, but he needed someone to be mad at. He may never let it go, which would be childish and something you could address later, but if it was just in the moment, forget about it.
    via 8cowdot
  • 21
    shelwood46 NAH but doesn't it count your steps regardless? He was upset and was likely not happy to get your notice or to see you took the time to make it workout instead of just a walk. Perhaps it's time to find a different workout partner.
    via shelwood46
  • 22
    Bubbly_Chicken_9358 NTA. It's not like you had to sit down and program something. You tapped a smartwatch as you walked out the door--it's the same thing I do setting our alarm system when I leave the house, and it's such second nature that I don't even realize I'm doing it.
    via Bubbly_Chicken_9358

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family drama emergency drama brother hospital siblings notifications stressful steps smart watch walking family sick projecting apple Father
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